Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche Jikme Chokyi Senge was born in 1966, as the grandson ofKyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. A dream that Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche had onenight while staying near the Bodhnath stupa indicated that his grandson was bethe combined emanation of the three main lamas from Shechen Monastery who hadall perished in Chinese prisons in the early sixties—the previous ShechenRabjam, Shechen Kongtrul and Shechen Gyaltsap, Gyurme Pema Dorje. This was laterconfirmed by the Sixteenth Karmapa.

Shechen Rabjam began receiving teachings from his grandfather, who raised him,at the age of three. During twenty-five years, he received teachings andempowerments and attended drupchen with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He first wentto the West with him in 1976.

In 1980, when Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche built Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monasteryin Baudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche became its abbot.Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is the seventh in the line of the Rabjam succession.After Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche passed away in 1991, Shechen Rabjam Rinpocheendeavoured to secure the transmission of his teachings and his vision ofTibetan Buddhist culture. Over the last ten years, Shechen Monastery has beenenriched with a shedra, a school for sacred dancing, rituals and chants, athangka painting school and a medical clinic.

The tradition of Samantabhadra and Padmakara is the Great Perfection,Dzogpachenpo. For its teachings you are a brilliant sun, beyond compare,infinite in your wisdom,Peerless great lion of the Dharma, of teaching and practice:May your secret body, speech and mind remain steadfast and indestructible!

These lines, which carry the blessing of the speech of Shechen GyaltsabRinpoche, Padma Vijaya, were adapted by Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche as aprayer for the long life of the Seventh Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche.